Why Planning for Backup Power Should Be a 2020 Goal
May 8, 2020
There’s never been a more pressing need for California homeowners to have backup power installed than in 2020. In 2019, the state saw 7,860 wildfires, which led to nearly 2.7 million Californians losing power during the state’s largest intentional blackout in history.
These Public Safety Power Shutoffs (known as PSPS), are likely to become an increasing liability for homeowners in the foothills of the Sierras, from Yuba City, Lincoln and Placerville.
Wildfire season in California typically lasts from May to December, though every year is dependent on particular weather patterns as well as how dry the spring and early summer are. Will you and your home be prepared for the next fire season and PSPS power outages? Take action today, either with home generator installation or by upgrading your home’s energy source with solar battery installation.
4 Reasons To Install Backup Power Now
Self-Generation Incentive Program has allocated $613 million towards resiliency communities to help install on-site batteries for those at higher risk of power outages.
Placer County suspended their usual generator permit fee of $275 for connecting a portable or permanent generator to your home for the first half of 2020, in the wake of PG&E power shutoffs.
In late 2019, when the first wave of PSPS was happening throughout California, demand for generators skyrocketed, and many local businesses were having trouble keeping units in stock. Acting now ensures you won’t be caught off guard during the next PSPS, fighting your neighbors for the last generators in the Sacramento area.
2020 is a great year to qualify for significant federal tax credits on solar installation. Taking advantage of the solar tax credit in 2020, homeowners can deduct up to 26% of the installation costs of their solar+battery system from their upcoming federal taxes, along with other rebates and financing, like PG&E’s solar rebates.
The Benefits of Installing a Backup Generator or Solar Battery
There are many reasons to have a backup power system, whether it’s a whole house generator or solar battery backup for the solar panels in your North Bay to Sierra foothills area home.
With a backup standby generator or solar battery, you’ll be able to:
Keep food and medicine from spoiling
Run your water pump and water heater for hot showers and plumbing
Charge your electronic devices, including your cell phones
Run your home’s heating and cooling systems
Keep security systems on
Plus, with a solar battery bank, you can not only free yourself from unexpected (or planned) power outages, but you can avoid peak energy pricing from your utility company, and get the most financial benefit from your home upgrade.
Prepare Your Home for Power Outages with Brower Mechanical
Not only can the whole home experts and solar installation specialists at Brower fight power outages with solar battery installation, generator backup installation and certified Generac generator maintenance for your home, but we can also help improve your home performance as well.
The better your home’s energy efficiency, the less power it will need to run. We call this the “reduce before you produce” mentality. This allows you to power your home with a small solar panel system, and better weather emergency power situations, and to save money year-round (we call this “going small solar”). Schedule solar installation in Rocklin, Lincoln, Yuba City, and more this year, and find out how the energy upgrades to your California home can benefit you and your family for a long time to come.
